In memoriam dr. Sebők András

It is with great sadness that we announce the unexpected death of dr. András Sebők, advisor and former general manager of Campden BRI Hungary, at the age of 72.

András graduated as a chemical engineer from the Faculty of Chemical Engineering of the Budapest University of Technology in 1975. Then, he completed his Ph.D. and doctorate in food science.

In 1975, he joined the Hungarian Deep-freezing Industry R + D Laboratory as a development engineer, where his perseverance, knowledge and talent led to his increasing recognition and rise to higher positions. In 1998 he became the general manager of the Hungarian subsidiary of Campden BRI until his retirement in 2022, when he continued to support his colleagues as an advisor.

Although the name and ownership of the company have changed over the years, from Campden & Chorleywood to Campden BRI Hungary, one thing has remained constant: András' strong belief in the importance of improving the food sector.

Over a career spanning nearly half a century, András’ thirst for knowledge and memory has become legendary, complemented by his incredible diligence and work ethic.

He was an advocate of continuous development and learning, and he led the Institute in this spirit. He pioneered the development of food safety and quality systems. He was responsible for the introduction and implementation of the HACCP system in Hungary.

He was the author and editor of numerous food safety textbooks, university notes and industry guides still in use today, and published regularly.

He was actively involved in international and national professional life. It would be difficult to list his scientific and professional achievements and positions. Since 2005, he was the scientific coordinator of the Hungarian National Food Technology Platform "Food for Life". Since 2007, he was the vice-president of the European Cooperation of National Food Technology Platforms. Since 2014 he has also chaired the Research and Innovation Expert Group of the European Food and Drink Association (FoodDrinkEurope). He was also an active member of several international advisory groups for the development of the food industry. In a career spanning more than 45 years, he was involved in the implementation of more than 20 European Union projects.

András is recognised as one of the most respected experts in the food industry, both nationally and internationally. His logical, systematic, and solution-oriented thinking is always praised by his project and industry partners.

Training the next generation of food professionals was a key priority for him. During his career, he held courses all over the world, but the training of his colleagues remained in focus. He supported his colleagues professionally, but also was always ready to share his experience in other areas, thus helping them to achieve more and rise higher.

The loss of dr András Sebők will leave a big hole in the heart of Campden BRI Hungary, but his spirit will remain with us.

We express our sincere condolences to the family and friends of András!

Rest in peace, András!